Game



July 12, 1832, 0 v RATHER GAME Filed May 11, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JIA/VE/VTOR g1 CLIFTON VI RATHER C. V. RATHER July 12, 1932.

GAME

Filed May 11, 1931 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR.

CLIFTON v. RATHER H/s fiTTOR/YEK Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE GAME Application filed May 1 1,

My invention relates to improvements in games wherein an inclined memberis provided with a plurality of open bottomed pockets at the lower endthereof to receive balls deposited at the upper end of said inclinedmember, each of said pockets being provided with at least one sideopening thru which a second ball is ejected by a first ball therein,said pockets operating in conjunction with a barrier slidably mounted inconnection with said pockets and normally operating to prevent thepassage of balls thru said open bottoms, said barrier being alsoprovided with means actuated by the presence of a ball in any pocket toactuate an indicator for said pocket and thereby indicate the presenceof said ball in said pocket, and to indicate a definite game-value ofsaid occupied pocket. 7

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved game.

{lnother object is to provide a new and improved game wherein a givennumber of balls are deposited in one end of the game apparatus androlled into certain pockets, and having improved means for returningduplicate deposits in any pocket to the player.

A further object is to provide a new and improved game of the characterdescribed, which shall be easily manipulated by one or more players fromone end of the device.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved game wherein aplurality of differently valued indicators may be automatically operatedto indicate the value of certain plays.

A still further object is to provide new and improved means forautomatically returning duplicate deposits in any one pocket, as well asthe total number of balls, to the players end of the apparatus andsimultaneously clearing the indicator of the score of the last play.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the device disclosed inthe drawings forming a part of the present application, wherein likecharacters of reference are used to designate similar parts throughoutthe specification and drawings, and in which- Fig. 1 is a broken planView, partly in sec- 1931. Serial No. 536,397.

tion, disclosing my improved game apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the device;

Fig. 3 is a broken front elevation of the indicators;

Fig. 4 is a broken transverse sectional view of the pockets, andbarrier; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged broken detailed view of the indicator actuatingmeans.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 1 is used to designate in generala housing having an inclined member 2 in the upper portion thereof, saidmember 2 being provided at the lower end thereof with a plurality ofopen bottom pockets 3, preferably arranged in staggered rows, asindicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. Each pocket 3 is provided with atleast one side opening'i, inner rows of pockets, where a plurality ofrows is'provided, depending below adjacent outer pockets to permit theprovision of said side openings.

A barrier 6, consisting of a plurality of transverse bars 7, eacharranged under each row of pockets 8', as disclosed in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe drawings, is slidably mounted in connection with the pockets 8, bymeans of guide-ways or supports 8. A longitudinally disposed bar 9 ispivotally connected at one end to said barrier 6, as at 11, and has itsopposite end extending exteriorly of the housing 1 at what I term theplayers or depositing end of said housing 1, and is furnished with asuitable button 12, to facilitate operation thereof.

The bar 9 is provided with a notch 14. within which rests a spring 16mounted upon a lateral support 17 mounted transversely of the housing 1,said spring 16 being positioned so that its tension will retain thebarrier 6 and bars 7 thereof normally in a position to prevent thepassage of balls 18 thru the bottom of the said pockets 3 but will notprevent a second ball deposited in any pocket from passing out of itsrespective side opening 4.

A second inclined member 19, oppositely inclined from the inclinedmember 2, is arranged in the lower portion of the housing 1 and belowthe pockets 3 and barrier 6, and has an exteriorly extending extension21 at the depositing or players end of said housing 1, the purpose ofwhich will hereinafter be more fully set forth.

Extending somewhat above the housing 1 and at the opposite end fromtheplayers end of the housing 1 I have provided a plurality ofdifferently valued or numbered indicators 22, each consisting of anumbered circle on glass or other transparent material 23, and behindeach numbered circle 22 I have provided a cylindrical member 24containing a lamp 26, so that when any one lamp 26 is lighted ashereinafter set forth, it will illuminate its own particular numberedcircle 22 and no other.

Mounted upon each transverse bar 7 of the barrier 6 and directly beloweach pocket 3, I have provided a pair of electrical contacts 27 whichare suitably connected to a source of electrical energy28, such as drycells or the like, which may bemounted within the housing 1, by meansofsuitable wires or conductors 29, each separate lamp or indicator beingconnected to a separate pocket 3.

A suitable glass cover 31 is mounted over the top of the housing 1 andthe inclined member 2 in the upper portion thereof, and

has one end arranged to fully enclose the entranceto the pockets 3 atthe lower'end of said-member 2, and its oppositeend arranged in spacedrelation to the players end of the device, to form an opening to permitthe instance, five, are deposited, one at a time,

thru the opening above mentioned at the players end of :the device.

Thru the attractionof gravity each ball 18 rolls down the inclinedmember 2 and falls into a pocket 3 and resting upon the conta'cts 27 onthe adjacent bar 7 closes the circuit thru the wires or conductors 29and battery 28 and thereby illuminates the lamp 26 back of the indicator22 corresponding to that pocket into which the ball 18 has beendeposited, thereby indicating the value of that particular play. I

, As the remaining balls 18 are rolled into different pockets 3 they inturn operate respective indicators 22 for the pockets entered and thetotals of vsaid numbered circles are added to produce the final score.As is usual in such games, the highest total score is the wninmg score.

Should oneof .the balls for an individual play enter a pocket 3 alreadyoccupied by a previously deposited ball 18, such second ball willbeejected thru the side opening 1 by said first mentioned balhand dropupon theoppositely inclined member 19 and roll exteriorly of the housing1 to the players or operators end of the housing 1, to be thererecovered and redeposited until it enters an unoccupied pocket.

After all of the balls deposited by any one player have moved intoseparate pockets 3 and the total obtained, all of said balls arereleased from their respective pockets by pushing inwardly the bar 9against the tension of the saring 16 thereby moving the bars 7 away fromthe open bottoms of the pockets 3, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.2 of the drawings, thereby permitting all of the balls within saidpockets 3 to drop upon the upper end of the oppositely inclined member19 and roll to a point exteriorly of the housing 1 and at the players ordeposit'ors end thereof where they will be recovered and redeposited forthe next play.

When the balls 18 are released from their respective pockets thecontacts are permitted to resume their normally open position and theindicators 22 are de-energized or rendered inoperative and the scorecleared.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A game comprising an inclined memberprovided with a plurality of pockets having open bottoms to permit thepassage of a ball thru any of said pockets; a common barrier normallyclosing said open bottoms; an indicator for each pocket; means mountedupon the barrier adjacent each pocket and actuated by a ball therein foroperating each respective indicator to indicate the presence of saidball in said pocket; and means for shifting the barrier to release anyballs in any pocket.

2. A game comprising an inclined member provided with a plurality ofpockets having open bottoms to permit the passage of a ball therethru; acommon barrier slidably mounted in connection with said inclined memberand normally preventing passage of a ball thru said pockets; a separateindicator for each pocket; means mounted upon the barrier' opposite eachpocket and connected to its respective indicator and actuated by a ballwithin said'pocket to operate said respective indicator; and means formoving the barrier to release balls thru the open bottoms of saidpockets.

3. A game comprising an inclined member provided with a plurality ofpockets arranged in rows and having open bottoms to permit the passageof a ball thru any of said pockets; a barrier slidably mounted in con.-nection with said inclined member and comarisin a aluralit of bars. eachbar bein i..';;'

connected with its respective indicator and actuated by a ball withinsaid pocket to operate said respective indicator; and means for movingsaid barrier to permit the passage of balls thru the pockets.

4. A game comprising an inclined member provided with a plurality ofpockets having open bottoms to permit the passage of a ball thru saidpockets, each of said pockets also having an open side whereby a secondball passing thereinto may be ejected thru said open side by a singleball within said pocket; a common barrier normally closing said openbottoms; an indicator for each pocket; separate means mounted upon thebarrier opposite each pocket and connected to its respective indicatorand actuated by a ball within said pocket to operate said respectiveindicator; and means for moving the barrier to release any ballsremaining within any pockets.

5. A game comprising a housing having an inclined member thereinprovided with a plurality of pockets arranged in a plurality of rows,and having open bottoms to permit the passage of balls thru saidpockets, certain of said rows of pockets depending below adjacent rows,and all of said pockets being provided with at least one open sidewhereby a second ball deposited Within any pocket may be ejectedthrusaid open side by a first ball therein; a common barrier slidablymounted within the housing and comprising a plurality of bars arrangedopposite the open bottoms of each row of apertures; a separate indicatormounted upon the housing for each pocket; separate means mounted uponthe bars, one for each pocket and connected to its respective indicatorand actuated by a ball within said pocket to operate said respectiveindicator; and an oppositely inclined member arranged within the housingand below the pockets and barrier to return balls from said pockets.

6. A game comprising a housing having an inclined member in the upperportion thereof provided with a plurality of pockets arranged in rowsand having open bottoms and at least one side opening whereby a secondball dropped into said pocket may be ejected by a first ball therein; anumbered indicator for each pocket; a barrier consisting of a pluralityof bars arranged across the open bottoms of each row of pockets tonormally prevent the passage of balls therethru; separate means mountedupon the bars for each adjacent pocket and connected with its respectiveindicator and actuated by a ball Within said pocket for operating itsrespective indicator; means for moving the barrier to release all ballsfrom their respective pockets; and an oppositely inclined memberarranged below the pockets and barrier to return released ballsexteriorly of the housing.

7. The combination with a game comprising a plurality of pockets toreceive balls of pockets having at least one side opening to release asecond ball passing into said pocket before a first ball is released.

8. The combination with a game comprising a housing having an inclinedmember provided with a plurality of open bottomed pockets at the lowerend thereof to receive balls deposited into the housing at the upper endof said inclined member, of pockets having at least one side thereofopen to release a second ball passing into said pocket before a firstball therein is released; and means for automatically returning saidreleased second balls exteriorly of said housing and at the depositingend thereof to facili- }t3ate the redepositing of said released secondalls.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my signature.

CLIFTON V. RATHER.

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